Process and installation for making pottery



Feb. 28,1939. w WLLER 2,148,871

PROCESS AND INSTALLATION FOR MAKING POTTERY Original Filed Nov. 4, 19314 Sheets-Sheet l Snventor (Itt neg Feb. 28, 1939. w. J. MILLER 2,143,371

PROCESS AND INSTALLATION FOR MAKING POTTERY Original Filed Nov. 4, 19314 Sheets-Sheet 2 3nvenfor Wm J 727m 1 (.Ittorheg Feb. 28, 1939. w J 72,148,871

PROCESS AND INSTALLATION FOR MAKING POTTERY Original Filed NOV. 4, 1.9314 Sheets-Sheet 3 52- 9 Will/am d, 77/7/72? (It; leg

Feb. 2:3, -1939. w, WLLER 2,148,871

PROCESS AND INSTALLATION FORMAKING POTTERY Original Filed Nov. 4, 1931 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Iv r w Snnentor' Gttomeg 5 cation for United StatesLetters Patent, Serial Patented Feb. 28, 1939 PROCESS AND INSTALLATIONFOR MAKING POTTERY William J. Miller, Swissvalc, Pa.

Original application November 4, 1931, Serial No. 573,017. Divided andthis application July '5,

1935, Serlal No. 29,886

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in processes, installations,mechanisms and apparatus for the manufacture of potteryware. Thisapplication is a division of my co-pending appli- Number 573,017, andrelates specifically to the jiggering of potteryware of the class knownas dinnerware, viz: cups, plates, saucers, etc. and that phaseconcerning the removal of excess clay as in the profiling and trimmingoperations after it has been applied to a mold and additionally has todo with the application of fluid in the removal of excess clay and thedisposal of this excess clay.

The objects of this invention are to produce high gradeJiggeredpotteryware, to provide quick location in accurate position ofthe ware forming profile and trimmer tools and fluid applying means; toprovide for quick adjustment and interchange of profiling and otherforming tools and accessories; to provide a common source of fluidsupply in the various steps of manufacture while permitting adjustmentof application in the individual step; to effect immediate removal oftrimmings of clay to preferred points of deposit .during ware formingoperations; and, to automatically remove excess clay from the surface ofthe clay ware undergoing fabrication, convey the same away from the waresurface and profile tool to beyond the brim of the mold.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view gering apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a water valve; 7

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of Fig. 2 on line 3-3;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of mechanism which operates the water valve;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 discloses a mounting for a file and Fig.- 6A a similar type ofhollowware profile. I

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a profiling trimming unit for shallowware;

Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. left;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of trimming unit for deep ware;-

Fig. 10 is a plan view of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a curved and angular profile tool;

Fig. ,12 is an elevation of a profile-tool;

Fig. 13 shows a universal clamp employed for mounting some of theforming tools and appli- 'ia i in elevation of a jigv at ware promunting for a and '7 I from right to a profiling and V the chuck isdropped rapidly.

Fig. 14 shows an adjustable sheave used in driving the Jigger spindle;

Fig. 15 shows a removable cam;

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view of the water y e Fig. 1'7 shows theconstruction of the water nozzles.

In general outline, as in my co-pending application supra, a fabricatingmachine comprises a feeding station A, 11g. 1, a profiling station 13and a conveyor 5 for transporting a series of mold trays if, suspendedby trunnions from links of the conveyor chains 5e, through thesestations; a

. drier through which the formed ware is passed either by the same or adiflerent conveyor; and; 15 if desired, further fabricating stationsarranged behind the drier in the direction of ware travel, or at anintermediate stage of the drier, or both. Each mold tray has a pluralityof mold seats for the reception of the same or diiferent formmolds, saidtrays being successively traveled to and through the fabricatingstations, the fabricating devices being preferably arranged in multiplelaterally of the conveyor. The machine is adapted to fabricatesimultaneously on a corresponding number of the same or diflerent linesof ware or, the apparatus and conveyor may be set up for single lineproduction only.

The profiling or forming station B, according to the present invention,has an assembly of appliances including profile blade, trimmer, air andwater nozzles, which can be interchanged as a unit while permittingindependent adjustment of 'all the appliances.

' maximum elevation, then slowly to' maximum elevation, to avoid rippingof the clay surface by the profile tool. This followed by a dwellperiodfollowed by a very slow drop of about .005 inchto provideforprogressively reducing the pressure oi the profile tool onthe waresurface during the terminating polishing operation and also avoid theusual tool mark on the were surface when. ware and tool are partedabruptly,- then rather rapidly until the mold nears the mold ring, thenslowly while depositing the mold on the ring, then This method ofprocedureproduces ware free from tool marks and. is particularlyapplicable when the batt is mechanically applied and of dependableunvarying thickness and contour.

Referring to Fig. 1, a frame girder 22 supported by bracket 22a isprovided with a suitable bearing to support a rocker shaft l3a to whichare secured arms 220 connected together by a cross bar 22d. To girder 22are secured the profiling implements (see Figs. '7, 8, 9, and 10) bymeans of dowels and bolts 22c. To reduce the time necessary in thereplacement of these profiling, implements and provide for adjustmentwhile in operation, thus providing for the maximum of continuousoperation, I have assembled into one unit and arranged to be assembledand the profile tool, the trimmer and operating mechanism, the water andair application nozzles and a spill plate or splash guard so that whenchanging from one type of ware to another, the time necessary ismaterially reduced, and when applied, immediate production obtainedwithout tedious interruptions due to adjustments.

The mold conveyor and the fabricating units of the machine are mountedin a frame with brackets dbextending upwardly from the'base members '4.Two chains carrying the trays 5 are in sliding engagement with thetracks 4d, and extend through the drier and fabricating stations outsidethe forming machine. A synchronizing chain is provided to keep the mainsprockets of the chains 5 in step and maintain a predetermined amount ofslack therebetween notwithstanding any excess slack in the other portionof the conveyor chains. The trays 5f (Fig. 2) are hung above theircenter of gravity for maintenance in a horizontal position regardless ofdirection of travel ofchain 5. I

The chains 5 and trays are shifted by levers 8 having at their upperends adjustable pawls 8g making intermittent contact with the traytrunnions on the right hand stroke of the levers only and trailing idlyas the levers move to the left, thus providing for shifting some of thetrays intermittently to the right in the course of the general advanceof the chain and trays over sprockets. As the trays are shifted to theright, slack accumulates to the right of the shifted tray and isdissipated or absorbed to the left of the tray due to the synchronoustravel of main sprockets.

The cross shaft 8a, Fig. 1 isincluded in the drive for the fabricatingunits of the machine, and through a sprocket secured thereto andassociated chain transmits motion to an upper shaft M to which aresecured cams 9.1: and 9w for operating the feeder, not hereinspecifically described. The lower shaft 8ahas secured thereto variouscams for actuating the chuck devices through toggles 10g which elevatethe chucks l0 and H secured to shaft 10a and Hal. These togglemechanisms exert a progressively increased terminal elevatingforce onthe chucks, and a smoother, slower, and more accurate terminal movement.Cam lllb on shaft 811 oscillates a lever IOd pivoted at its lower end ona fulcrum lodl and carryinga roller I00 engaging the cain. The upper endof this lever id is jointed-by a link Ifle to a toggle lever lllfconnected by suitable joints my, to pne of the toggle levers I 0h,pivoted medially on a fulcrum ml. The other toggle. member I01 is joinedat its upper end Hlil to the chuck stem Illa or spindle Ma and at itslower end E2 to the toggle lever 10h, this joint constitutingthe knee ofthe toggle. The parts are so arranged that in the upper or raisedposition the toggle members lllh, llli and the chuck stem are inalignment providing rigid vertical support for the chuck, while inlowered position the toggle parts are collapsed. Accordingly, as thetrays are halted at the profiling station, the chucks l l engage andelevate the molds, and return the molds to the trays at the terminationof the profiling operation.

For rotating the work incident to profiling the shaft 16m has secured toit, a gear lBnZ (Fig. 1) meshing with a gear I60 secured to a shaft ifipto which is secured an adjustable sheave ltq pitman lfia isreciprocated, the chuck spindle- Hal with the chuck I I is caused tointermittently rotate and rest and the cams [6 are adjusted tosynchronize the periods of rotation with that of the elevation of thechucks by the cam ilib and also, in synchronism with the tray shift andother operations for a purpose hereinafter morefully described.

The preferred form of profile for fiat ware is as shown inFigs, 7, 8,12, in which a frame 22 is integral with or fixed on a head 229. Theframe 22,f.was heretofore made of wood, but I prefer to make it of alight metal which does not stain clay such as aluminum. In Fig. 12, isshown the preferred method of securing a profile blade 22h onto theframe 22f providing for quick replace,- ment of blades whenthey becomedull from use. The frame 22f is provided with two rectangulai bosses221', and the blade 22h with two projecting ears 227'; a clamp 22ksecured by screws 22m retains the blade 22h in position against upwarddisplacement, the ears 22y resting on the bosses 222' limiting thelowermost position of the blade, and the blade edges fitting snuglybetween the bosses 22i determine lateral positioning. As the cuttingedge of the blade 22h wears away and is redressed, the cars, where theycontact with the bosses-22L are dressed back to an equal extent andchecked for accuracy in the dummy set up, so that when replacing theblade, it is necessary only to drop it onto the bosses 22i and tightenscrews 22m, in order to insure correct position without tedious trialsand adjustments. In case it is desired to adjust the lower portion onlyof the profile frame and also provide for quick replacement in correctposition, the structure shown in Fig. 8 is preferred. The head 229 isprovided with two dowel holes 2211. into which project two studs 22othreaded into a plate 22p. The profile frame 22f is provided with twoenlarged open- \It is desirable to establish and maintain' an optimumspeed of mold rotation for each kind or line of ware, while selectivelylimiting or terminating the profiling operation or predetermining thenumber of rotations during which the ware in each line is in contactwith the profile in order to avoid excessive or deficient tooling of thesurface, by withdrawing the tool from the ware surface, when saidsurface is in the best condition, irrespective of the operativeconditions approach of the blade to the mold surface and a spring 22ndadjustably mounted determines the application pressure. The holder isprovided with an arm 22cc having in its end an adjustment screw 2211fwhich contacts with a cam 22ag mounted on a'shaft 22ah as shown in Fig.6.

According to usual present practice, it is necessary to manually removethe excessclay from the'face of the profile after each piece of ware ismade. Obviously, in an automatic machine, this is impractical and I havetherefor devised a means for automatically disposing of this excessclay. In Figs. 8 and 12 my improved type of profile is provided in thelower edge of the frame adjacent the blade with a groove 22t and a ledge2211. extends. to nearly the same depth as the cutting edge of the blade22h. The groove 221.

.is of smaller cross section at the center forming portion 221) and ofgradual enlarged crosssection as it approaches the rim forming portion2210 which extends over the edge of the mold. As the blade 22h scrapes0115 the excess clay from the profile, the application of' this waterbeing exbatt, the taper portion 2211 of the blade 22h forces the clayinto the top of the grooves 22t and the ledge 2211. confines it so thatgradually a pressure is built up in the groove at 2212 .and the open end2211:, is less at 2210 than at 2212, and the clay will move to the pointof least resistance ,and

, emerge from the opening 222 inthe form of a.

column clearing the edge of the mold and being projected'some distanceaway from the edge of themold and profile frame. This action is assistedby the lubricating action of the water mixing with the clay which isscraped off by the plained later.

When making large ware, it may be desirable to assist the extrudingforces above outlined by providing a curved profile, (Fig. 11), at do sothat therotating face of the batt contacts tan- I for the outer portionof the ware. When making cups .etc. in cavity molds, the

profile tool may also be inclined from the true vertical or twisted likean auger to produce the same results. ratchet teeth 22ml inclinedtowards the outlet 22w maybe provided in the heel of an inclined surfaceof the cutting edge 22h which serve to direct and propel the clayinitially towards the outlet 22w.

The speed of rotation of different sized ware must be kept withincertain limits, and in Fig. 14, I show means for adjusting the speed ofthe chuck. Fig. 14 is a detail of the pulleys shown in Fig. 1 anddesignated at "it and Hiq, a belt "is of the V-type transmitting powerbetween the two. The sheaves are in two halves 23 and In addition or asa substitute,

23a, held in adjusted position by screws 23b and secured to the shaft byscrew 230. By separating one sheave as shown at 23d and closing theother as shown by 23c, the same length of belt will serve, while thespeed is altered. Any other means may be employed for obtaining thisspeed variation.

During the profiling operation, it is necessary to apply a lubricantsuch as water to the surface of the ware to prevent unduedrag of theprofile blade on the clay and assist in polishing the surface of theware at the termination of the profiling operation. The application ofthis water has a considerable bearing on the quality of the wareproduced. The quantity of water applied, the time of application, theduration of application, the location and angle of impact and the numberof applications are the more important.

A bracket 23? (Figs. 7, 9, 10) extends from the profile frame 22f and isprovided with a universal connection 23g detailed in Fig. 13. A bar 23hextends from this universal connection and is provided at its outer end231' with another universal connection to which is secured the nozzle231' thus providing for vertical, horizontal and angular positioning ofthenozzle member 237'. A plurality of nozzles and securing means may beprovided so that succeeding jets of water may be applied to the surfaceof the batt at various points and times.

The valves for controlling the application of water to the nozzles areshown in detail in Figs. 2 and 3 and the method of operating thesevalves in Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. 16 illustrates, diagrammatically, the planof employing a multiple of valves all connected to one nozzle and thevalves timed so that they function in sequence. Lateral pipes 231:connect with nozzle manifold 23m at one end and with the valve manifoldat the other. Each is provided with an adjustable control valve 231: anda check valve 230 and each profile is provided with a similar structure.A nozzle 23:! is connected to the end 23p of the nozzle manifold. Byclosing one or more of the valves 231:, that portion of the streamcontrolled by that particular valve is eliminated, so that either aninterrupted stream or a stream of less duration depending onwhich'valves are closed, is applied. The check valve 230 prevents backfiow of water to. thus insure accurate functioning of all the nozzleunits. At times, it is 'desirable to apply succeeding jets of water atdifferent points on the surface of the batt and in that case, the valvemanifolds and checks 230 are eliminated, the nozzles being connecteddirectly to their respective lateral pipes 2310. Any one or more of thenozzles may be rendered inoperative by closing valve 231:. The nozzlesproper may be constructed as shown in Fig. 17,

, the pipe 23p having on its end an orificed cap 23q adjustable: withrespect to a fixed needle valve 231' in order to vary the crosssectional area' of the stream. By properly proportioning the'needlecontour with the orifice contour, any desired shape of stream from asolid stream to an open spray may beobtained, the former serving fordefinite point application, the latter for promiscuous application.Under certain conditions, it may be desirable to retract the nozzle awayfrom the working surface of the ware after it has applied its charge ofwater and in Fig. l7, I have detailed a structure adaptable to thispurpose. A casing 23s is provided with an enlarged bore 23t in whichworks a piston 23a secured to a hollow piston rod 23v, a spring 2310being located between the piston and smaller part of the casing. Thelatter has an inlet 23:: and a by-pass port 231/. A gland 23.2 preventsleakage around the piston rod. A lug 24 facilitates securing the nozzleto the profile frame 22 through universal connections previouslydescribed. The spring 23w serves to keep the piston normally in aposition adjacent the inlet 23:: and when water is admitted throughvalves (Figs. 2 and 3) and inlet 233:, the piston rod and nozzle areforced. forward uncovering port 2311 and permitting water to pass intothe smaller bore chamber 24a and through a port 24b into the hollowpiston rod and thence to nozzle 23g. When the water pressure in theinlet 231: is shut off and that port connected to atmosphere, the spring2310 forces thepiston backwater that may still remain in the hollow rod'231), so that this valve structure functions to first project the nozzleto the desired position, then apply a jet of water to the ware surface,and then retract the nozzle away from the ware preventing dripping ofwater onto the same when the nozzle is inactive and prevent damage tothe nozzle or ware during its inactive period.

In Figs. 2 and 3, the valve casing He is provided with a valve body 24dsecured by its stem l5a to a star wheel lib and provided with threeports 24:: and I three vents 24f intermittently communicating with ports24g, and 24b. and leakage port 242 in the casing so that when the valveis in position shown in Fig. 2, water from the supply line enters at 24gand issues at 24h and thence to the various nozzles. At the next'rotation ofthe valve, port 24f communicates with 24h and 2li to therebyconnect the nozzle to the atmosphere or vacuum.

Figs. 4 and 5 show the means for actuatin the water valves, shownattached to shaft 9d, and adjusting theinstant of actuation of thecontrol cam. A cam disc 9: on the shaft 941 is provided with a series ofthreaded openings 31 into which a number of studs l5 are secured. Thesestuds engage the arms of a star wheel I5?) and shift it one notch orrevolution and as the valve requires a $4, revolution from one open toanother open position, it follows that at every alternate functioning,the valve is opened and closed. These studs may be placed at variouspositions and serve for adjusting the relative instant of and number offunctions of the fluid control valve during one cycle. The disc 82 isalso adjustable on its shaft.

After the plate is profiled, to finished shape, it is necessary to trimthe clay from the brim and exposed portions of the mold which during theprofiling operation has become coated with clay. For this purpose, Ihaveprovided the structure shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10.

The trimmer blade 26 (Fig. 7) is secured to an operating pitman 26athrough the medium of the universal clamp (Fig. 13) and is retained stud26 I which contacts with the bar 22d. A lug 269 projects from the pitman26a and contacts witha screw 26h threaded into a projection of the frame22f to thereby adjustably limit the advance of the trimmer blade 26towards the edge of the ware. A housing 261' projects from the frame 22fand is bored to house a spring 265' and a plunger 2670. Thespringtension is adjustable through a screw 26m and detent 2612 and theplunger resiliently contacts with a cam 260 secured to the pitman 26a,its upper surface being contoured to suit. The lever 26c and thevertical portion of the bell crank 266 are provided with screw studs 26gcarrying movable pivot blocks 261" to which is pivoted the link 25c andwhereby the vertical position of the link may be adjusted and therebyadjust the horizontal travel of the pitman 2611 while in operation. Thescrew 26f is provided with an adjustable collar 26s, a spring 2612 andan adjustable collar 26a. The collar 26s adjusts the tension of thespring 2625 and the collar 26a determines the vertical position of thehead of the screw 26 By adjusting the collar 26a upwards, a gap isprovided between bar 22d and screw head 26f across which the bar 22dmust travel before contacting with the screw and consequently delays theadvance of the trimmer 26 and also reduces its extent of travel forward.Then by adjusting the link 26c downward, the extent of travel may berestored iii and its speed of travel is increased. By adjusting the linkdownward as before, and maintaining the collar 26a in its presentposition, the trimmer is caused to function earlier, the spring 26tcompressing on final depression of bar 22d due to the screw 26h limitingthe advance of pitman 26a and this also increases the dwell of thetrimmer 26 in advanced position. This prothe medium of the housing 26iand cam 26o, pressure of the trimmer 26 against the mold surface may beadjusted and the contour of the cam 260 provides for varying thepressure of the trimmer blade on the mold at any point during itstravel. To provide against derangement of the trimmer 26 from nicked ordefective mold brims and to properly start the trimmer over the edge ofthe brim of the mold, I provide the cam 260 with a lower or under sidecontoured surface which may be to a different contour than the upperportion and which bears against a screw 26p and limits the lowermostposition of the blade 26. To provide for quick replacement of trimmers26, a dog 21 having a dowel 21a secured in one end is clamped to a stem21b by a screw 210, thus providing for the removing of the stem 21b andtrimmer 26 as a unit and replacing it with another unit which haspreviously been set co rectly on a dummy or duplicate unit away from themachine, or replacing the same unit in exact.

position it, occupied before removal, thereby greatly reducing the timeotherwise necessary for replacing .a trimmer and adjusting it carefully.The universal mounting of the trimmer 26 facilitates the setting of theblade 26 to any desired angle both vertically and horizontally and alsoits position horizontally on the mold and also its degree of tangentialtravel on the mold. To insure against adhesion of the clay on thetrimmer 25, I prefer to advance the trimmer rather rapidly to therebyincreasethe size and weight of the trimmings which renders them lessliable to adhere to the blade due to momentum they possess. To stillfurther insure against adhesion and to direct the trimmings to apredetermined point of deposit lest such trimmings fbr '15 or bedeflected onto the surface of the freshly formed ware or accumulate onthe gear and drop back onto the ware surface, I provide a nozzle member2111, controlled by valves such as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, adjacent theprofile a (1 ad-- trolled and mounted, is directed against the ware toremove or uniformly distribute excess water or slurry over the surfaceof the ware.

When making cups, etc., the structure as shown in Figs. 9 and 10 isemployed. In this case, the profile is also provided :with a wastematerial extruding groove and is mounted substantially 26! mounted andfunctioning similar to that shown in Fig. '7 transmits motion from thebar 22d to the lever 281;, which is pivotaily secured at Mai to theprofile frame 22! through an extension 23!. A screw 28b provided withcollar a so ' in making plates. a universal joint, aids and insuresdislodgment 28M, limits the lowermost travel of lever 28a. The wiretrimmer III is flexible and is mounted so that at first contact with themold, it is in the position shown at. 28c and when depressed to maximumposition it is as at 28, intermediate of .these two positions, itfollows the contour of the mold top having point contact only so that oninitial contact, it cleans the outer edge of the mold and progressivelyfollows to the bore, then when being elevated this is repeated inreverse. In this type of trimmer, it is of greater importance to depressthe trimmer rapidly to thereby remove large portions of excess clay atone time so as to prevent adhesion of the clay to the wire 28 and alsoprevent throwing of fine chips or shavings of clay into the moldinterior. The screw structure 26 heretofore more fully explained servesto control the speed of trimmer application on cups independent of thatemployed An air jet 28d, mounted on of trimmings and directs theirdeposition. The

trimmer is elevated by means of spring 28c. The 1 profile frame 22) isprovided with brackets 23} and 28f to-which is secured waste materialspill pan or guard 289 provided with a bore "hand an upwardly extendingcone 2812 whose upper bore is slightly larger'than the mold and thiscone is for the purpose of preventing waste material from falling downinto the mechanism beneath cent molds and confines it within a'definitearea.

4 Fig. 13- shows' a universal adjustment clamp. A securingstem 25 is asnug fit in the bore of the split clamp 25a which is bored at rightangles for insertion of a stud 25b having a head 250- at one end and athreaded portion 256 at the other in engagement with nut 25c. A washerthe rod or tube 25h may be swung around in any position besides beingslidden along the bar 25 to change the location. This type of clampprovides for quick adjustment of the spray nozzles and various toolsherein described.

In Fig. is shown a structure adaptable to I replace the bar 22d of Fig.1 in the operation of the profiles or trimmers. When ware of such adiversified character is being made simultaneously on different heads ofthe same machine, that sufiicient difference in cycle through themechanism heretofore described and operating from bar 22d, cannot beobtained then a cam shaft and cam structure somewhat sim-' ilar to Fig.15 may be employed. A shaft 28m is rotatably mounted in an extension ofgirder 22 and is connected by a chain and sprockets to the shaft 9dto'operate in synchronism therewith. The shaft is splined at 281: andprovided with a series of spaced circumferential grooves at 280. AU-shaped cam 28p is provided with an extension 1 and an adjustment screw281' at one end and a detent spring 28:: at the other. The detent spring28s serves to retain the cam on the shaft and for quick application andremoval. The peripheral grooves 280 are spaced similar to those on thetray and they locate the cams horizontally. The screw 281' determinesthe angular position of the cam and provides for adjustment of saidposition. Various designs of camsmay be quickly applied and removedwithout interrupting the continuous operation of the machine, or aseries of cams may be mounted adjacent each other and slid horizontally,along the shaft to position the desired cam in functioning position.

.a' porous mold, a profile tool of blade shape and formed with a conduithaving an open edge alongside the profile cutting edge and a crosssectional area increasing towards the side of the tool directed towardsthe edge of the mold, said conduit having a bevel portion at the endwhich co-operates with the center of the ware.

2. Apparatus for jiggering potteryware on a porous mold comprising: aproflle'tool arranged to profile the central portion of a piece of wareon the mold, and a second profile tool arranged to profile the outerpart of the ware, both profile tools having therein an excess claydischarging conduit and being arranged with the conduit of the centraltool'discharging into the conduit of the outer tool.

3. In apparatus for the manufacture of pottery ware, a. mold, a supportfor said mold, a profile tool, and means for mounting the tool foroblique or non-radial presentation to the outer periphery of the mold. I

4. In apparatus for the manufacture of pottery ware, a mold, a support"therefor, a plurality of jiggering tools 'for co-operation with the moldin the shaping of ware thereon, means for mounting said tools, at .leastone of said tools being mounted for oblique or non-radial presentationto the mold.

5. The process of making pottery ware which comprises jiggering a claycharge on a porous mold whileapplying an excess of water to; the charge,then selectively applying a blast of 'air to the jiggered surface insuch a manner as to distribute the resultant slurry uniformly over thesurface of the ware.

6. In the manufacture of jiggered dinnerware, a method of manipulating amold incident to the jiggering of the clay applied thereto whichcomprises, elevating the mold rapidly whilst rotating the same until theclay engages a profiling instrumentality and thereafter slowlyapproaching maximum elevation accompanied by rotation of the work andremoval of excess material, slowly retracting the work after apredetermined dwell perlod at maximum elevation and progressivelyreducing the tool pres sure on the work and thereafter rapidly loweringthe mold. I

'1. A jigger tool including upon one side surface of the block and therebeing an outwardly flared groove in the underside of the blockcontiguous to the blade and leading from a point spaced from the inneredge vof the block through the outer edge of the block.

8. A jigger tool including a block, a blade upon one side surface of theblock and there being a groove in the underside of the'block adjacent tothe blade and leading from a point near the inner edge of the blockthrough the outer edge of the block, said groove being flared toward theouter edge of the block.

9. A jigger tool including a block and an outwardly curved blade uponone side surface 01' the block.

10. A jigger tool including a block, an outwardly curved blade upon oneside surface of the block, and there being a. groove in theundera block,a blade amaerr side of the block adjacent to the blade and leading froma point near the inner edge of the block through the outer edge of theblock.

11. A jigger tool including a block, an outthe block. through the outeredge of the block.

13. A jigger tool including a block, an outwardly curved blade upon oneside surface of the block, and there being a curved, flared groove inthe underside of the block adjacent to the blade and leading from apoint near the inner edge of the block through the outer edge of theblock.

14. A jigger tool including a block, a blade upon one side surface ofthe block and there being a groove in the underside of the block leadingfrom the zone of the inner edge of the block through the outer edge ofthe block through which excess material is discharged.

